Portable platform



March 13, 1941- G. D. SHANAHAN ETAL ,6

PORTABLE PLATFORM Filed Jan. 30, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l B2 F|G.4.,

. INVENTORS GEORGE D.SHANAHAN BY CLYDE C.HUFFMAN ELVERT R.WARNKE Wmxwwoam a ATTORNEYS March 18, 1941.

G. D. SHANAHAN E 2,235,647

PORTABLE PLATFORM Filed Jan. so, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 K M- FIG.8. M

k P x 2 FIGS.

\ my \r\\\ INVENIORS GEORGE D. SHANAHAN BY CLYDE C.HUFFMAN ELV ERTRWARNKE WWW ATTORNEYS Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PORTABLE PLATFORMGeorge D. Shanahan. Clyde 0. Huffman, and- Eivcrt R. Warnke, Detroit.Mich, assignors to Steel Plate &

Shape Corporation, Detroit,

:flcla, a corporation of Delaware A pllcation January 30, 1939, SerialNo. 253,652

9 Claims.

The invention relates to portable platforms, such as are used inmanufacturing establishments for the handling of manufactured articlesor raw material. vention to obtain a construction which is particularlyadapted for use in connection with electric or mechanical lift'or'elevatin'g trucks during transportation via railroads or highwayvehicles. It is a further object to obtain a fairly light weightconstruction which may be used either as aplatform or a knockdown boxcontainervv and which can be readily returned to the shipping point.Still further. it is an object to obtain av construction whichfacilitates chuck attachment and detachment of articles mounted on theplatform, and also facilitates the easy handling of the platform orcontainer. With these objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of our improved portable platform;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of our portable platform;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of our portable platform;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section through one of the channel bars;

Figures 5 and 6 are vertical sections illustrating a construction ofcontainer mounted on the platform;

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are vertical sections showing differentmodifications;

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a portion of the platform with thecontainer mounted there- Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional viewthrough a corner of the container.

One of the important features of the invention is a construction whichfacilitates the securing to the platform of articles of various sizesand shapes, which are to be transported. This is accomplished by formingthe platform of channel members and preferably members having undercutupwardly opening channels. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the platform isconstructed of channel members A having T-shaped heads B forminginwardly and outwardly extending flanges B, B, and providing undercutchannels C. These bars are cut to lengths for forming the ends A. A andthe sides A and A of a rectangular frame A with mitered corners E. Thereare also a plurality of parallel cross bars A, .A which extend acrossbetween the bars A and A. These members may be secured to each It is theobject of the ininto the channel frame members.

other either by welding or by the use of gusset plates F at. the fourcorners, and double gusset plates G between the cross members A and Aand the side members A and A The platform is further provided withsuitable supporting legs, which as shown at H, are U-shaped and formedof bent channel bars. Their upper ends are secured to the bottoms of theframe members or to the gussets F and G, and they are further reinforcedby gusset members I and angle extensions I thereof. Thus the completedplatform will be strong and light and is provided with the upwardlyopening undercut channels extending completely around the margin of theframe, as well as along each of the transverse members. This facilitatesthe attachment of the article or articles to be transported, throughtheuse of fastener devices (not-shown), which are engageable with theundercut channels. Furthermore, as all of the marginal members of theframe are channeled, this facilitates the engagement therewith oflifting means.

When it is desired to provide a box container, this may be formed ofeither flat or corrugated sheet metal side and end plates J and J heldtogether at their corners by vertically extending angle bars J. As shownin Figure 11, the bars J are welded to the side plates J and overlap theend plates J. The box is secured in position by depending bars K and N,respectively, secured to the side and end plates J and J and extendingOne or more of the bars K may be provided with angle flanges K incontact with the bottom ofthe channel and extending underneath one ofthe inwardly extending flanges B of the T-shaped heads B. A cylindricalkey or looking member L welded or otherwise rigidly secured to theflanges K is engageable with the underside of the flanges B to hold theflanges K in position. A bottom closure M for the receptacle is firstlaid upon the top of the platform and may be secured to the channels Athereof. Such closure M is provided in registration with the interior ofthe upwardly opening channels A with apertures M that receive the memberK and N carried by the side and end plates J and J respectively.

In place of the rolled channel bars, the frame members may be formed ofpressed sheet metal channel members P, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.Also, in place of channel members having T- heads, members 0 having aninwardly extending flange O at one side and an outwardly extendingflange 0? at theopposite side may be used as shown in Figure 9. In placeof the locking key L the flanges K of the members K may be provided withupturned end-portions K as shown in Figures 7 and 8. All of the variousmodifications have the common feature of providing upwardly openingchannels in the load carrying surface of the frame, which facilitate theattachment of other members thereto or the engagement of the platformwith the lifting devices.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A portable platform comprising an assembly of bars, each having anundercut upwardly opening channel therein, said bars being rigidlyattached to each other with their upper faces substantially in a commonplane.

2. A portable platform comprising a substantially horizontal frameformed of load supporting channel-shape members rigidly secured togethersubstantially in a common plane, the channels of said members extendingcompletely around the margins of ,the frame and provided at their upperedges with load carrying portions, said channels being provided beneathsaid load carrying portions with means for receiving anchorage means forthe load.

3. A portable platform comprising a substantially horizontal frameformed of upwardly opening load carrying channel-shape members rigidlysecured together, the upstanding webs of the upwardly openingchannel-shape members having T-shape heads for supporting the load andfor cooperating with the channels of said members for holding anchoragemeans for the load.

4. A portable platform comprising a substantially horizontal frameformed of upwardly opening load carrying channel-shape members rigidlysecured together, one upstanding web of each upwardly openingchannel-shape member being inverted L-shape in cross section whereby thehorizontal part of each L forms a support for the load and cooperateswith the upright part of the L for holding anchorage means for the load.

5. A portable platform having two sets of channel-shape members, one setcomprising spaced longitudinally extending members, and the other setcomprising spaced transversely extending members rigidly secured to saidlongitudinally extending members, one set of channel-shape members beingprovided at their upper edges with means for supporting a load, and theother set of channel-shape members being provided at their upper edgeswith lateral portions overhanging and cooperating with the channels ofsaid members for holding anchorage means for the load.

6. A portable platform having a substantially horizontal frame formed ofload supporting bars rigidly secured together and provided with upwardlyopening channels, one side wall of each channel being providedlongitudinally thereof with an inwardly projecting portion for holdingin the channels anchorage means for the load.

7. A portable platform comprising a substantially horizontal frame, anddepending supporting legs therefor, the frame being formed of anassembly of longitudinally extending and transversely extending barsrigidly secured to each other, substantially horizontal gusset platesbridging the Joints between and secured to the lower faces of saidlongitudinally extending and transversely extending bars, the legs beingsubstantially U-shape and opening upwardly toward the frame, the uprightarms of the U's having their upper ends abutting and rigidly secured tothe undersides of said horizontal gusset plates and vertical gussetplates secured to the upright arms of said legs and to the outer sidesof the bars of said frame.

8. A portable platform comprising a substantially horizontal frame, anddepending supporting legs therefor, the frame being formed of anassembly of bars rigidly secured to each other,

substantially horizontal gusset plates bridging the joints between andsecured to said bars, the legs being substantially U-shape and openingupwardly toward the frame, the upright arm? of the Us bearing againstand rigidly secured to the horizontal gusset plates, and substantiallyvertical gusset plates secured to the upright arms of said legs and tothe bars of said frame.

9. A portable platform having a substantially horizontal rectangularframe formed of two iongitudinally extending and two transverselyextending load supporting bars rigidly secured together in substantiallya common horizontal plane and provided with upwardly opening channels,the ends of the channels in said longitudinally extending barsregistering with and opening into the ends of the channels in saidtransversely extending bars so that the channels of said bars extendcompletely and continuously around the frame, the upper edges of saidchannels constituting load carrying portions, one side wall of each ofsaid channels being provided longitudinally thereof with an inwardlyprojecting portion for holding in the channels anchorage means for theload.

GEORGE D. SHANAHAN. CLYDE C. HUFFMAN. ELVERT R. WARNKE.

